Uncle Floyd, a popular comic in New Jersey for decades, has danced at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. In fact, all his early life, teachers groomed him to become a dancer and musician.
He eventually took up with a drama club, where he learned he had a talent for making people laugh.
On Aug. 13, the legendary comic will do more than just make people laugh when he comes to The Arts Factory in Bayonne as part of a three-comic fundraiser for 19-year-old Jillian Elias.
“Jillian, who is 19-years-old, was involved in a tragic automobile accident,” said Denise Foust, one of the people seeking to promote the fundraiser. “The Arts Factory is hosting a fundraiser for Jillian with an evening of music and comedy. Three nationally known comics have agreed to do the fundraiser.”
An alleged drunk driver struck Elias on the morning of April 18, which caused her to suffer spinal cord damage. She managed to survive an injury that doctors say is 98 percent fatal.
“But she is still paralyzed,” Foust said. “She has a lot of medical expenses and her house has to be modified.”
After the accident, Elias was rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center and then transferred to University Hospital in Newark. She went on to receive treatment at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange.
Doctors said she suffered bleeding of the brain and brain trauma. The accident also caused her skull to become detached from her spine, causing spinal damage. She also suffered injuries to her ribs, kidneys, liver, ankle and pelvis.
When I heard about their daughter’s accident, I asked what we could do.” – Greg Bukshowany
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“I grew up with her father and mother,” said Greg Bukshowany of The Arts Factory. “We came from the same neighborhood. We knew each other’s families. When I heard about their daughter’s accident, I asked what we could do.”
Bukshowany came up with the idea of bringing in comic acts to raise some money for the family.
“Uncle Floyd has been to our place before, so when we looked around for someone to headline the fundraiser, we wanted someone who could fill up the place,” Bukshowany said.
Comics Jeff Norris and Rene DeLorenzo are also on the bill.
“It’s going to be a night of comedy,” he said. “The tickets cost $40, and all the profits go to the family.”
Food for the evening will be provided by Cafe Bello. A live band will perform after the comedy show.
Headlining the fundraiser, Uncle Floyd is something of a New Jersey legend, whose show – “The Uncle Floyd Show” – developed a cult like following right after it started in 1974. The show often gave local talent a chance to display their acts.
He has since appeared as an actor on NBC-TV’s “Law And Order” (twice), ABC-TV’s soap opera “Loving,” Bill Boggs’ “Comedy Tonight,” Nickelodeon’s “Turkey TV” and has filled in for Gilbert Gottfried on USA-TV’s “Up All Night.” Comedy Central audiences have seen him in the “Dr. Demento Show.”
Between all this, he managed to get acting roles in several films, including “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Crazy People,” “Mr. Wonderful,” “A Pyromaniac’s Love Story” and “The Clowns of Babylon.”
But he has said in more than one interview that live performance remains his first love, and he continues to perform in clubs throughout the area. He spends as many as 300 nights per year on stage.
The Arts Factory is located at 280 Avenue E in Bayonne. For more information, call (201) 436-6700.